Method of making shelf structures



June 5 1962 G. R. KIMBALL ETAL 3,037,267

METHOD OF MAKING SHELF STRUCTURES Filed Feb. 20, 1959 atent @ffice Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,267 METHQD F MAKING SHELF STRUCTURES George R. Kimball, and Nicholas L. Etten, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignors to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,624 2 Claims. (Cl. 29-160) This invention relates to improvements in shelf structures and more particularly relates to an improved method of making shelf structures particularly adapted for refrigerators and the like.

Heretofore, refrigerator shelf structures have consisted in spaced longitudinal bars and round cross-wires connecting the bars together by riveting or by threading the ends of the wires to the longitudinal bars and by heading the ends of the wires to the end bars and by crimping the wires to the intermediate bar. The riveted ends of the wires have then been concealed by an ornamental bounding frame extending about the shelf structure or by ornamental frame structures enclosing the ends and sides of the frame.

With such shelf structures, the riveting or threading operations are objectionable, due to the difficulty in riveting and threading the wires to the end bars, resulting in an expensive operation and making it necessary to conceal the riveted or threaded ends of the wires by an ornamental frame of one form or another.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of making refrigerator shelves in which the end and intermediate bars of the sheld are of a channel-like construction, slotted to accommodate the cross-wires to be recessed therein, and in which the crosswires are secured to the end and intermediate bars by staking the wires laterally into engagement therewith.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simpler method of making refrigerator shelves and the like, in which all riveting operations and concealing frame structures are rendered unnecessary.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of method of making a `fabricated shelf structure suitable for use in refrigerators and the like, wherein three parallel spaced longitudinally extending bars, channel-like in cross-section, are slotted to receive round wires and wherein the round wires are recessed within the slotted portions of the channel-like longitudinal bars and secured thereto by simple staking operations.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary plan view of a refrigerator shelf structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional View taken through a metal strip forming one `of the end bars of 4the shelf structure, prior to forming of the bar in a channel-like form, and illustrating a wire receiving slot formed therein prior 'to forming of the bar to its channel-like form;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a metal strip forming the center bar of the shelf structure, and illustrating the configuration of the slots formed therein;

FIG. 4 is a plan View of a formed intermediate bar of the shelf structure;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary generally diagrammatic view illustrating the steps of assemblying the shelf structure;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line VI-VI of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line VII--Vll of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end view, illustrating one end of the refrigerator shelf structure and the staking of a cross-wire to an end bar of the structure.

ln the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, we have shown in FIGURE l a refrigerator shelf structure including longitudinally extending parallel spaced side bars 10, 1t?, an intermediate or center bar 11, and round rods or wires 12 connecting the bars 10, 10 and 11 together in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the longitudinally extending side bars 10, 10 are each formed from a ilat plate or strip of metal, such as steel, aluminum or any other suitable metal, and are slotted While in strip form by a punching lor like operation, providing a plurality of parallel spaced slots 13 in the flat metal strip or plate, having rounded ends 15 conforming to substantially onehalf of the circumference of the rounded cross-wires 12.

The strip when slotted is then bent into a channel-like form having a web 16 and parallel spaced legs or flanges 17 and 19 extending therefrom, with the rounded end portions 1S of the slots 13 in said legs and forming generally semi-circular recesses to receive the cross-wires 'or rods 12.

During the operation of forming or bending the side bar lil, the leg 19 is bent outwardly intermediate the ends thereof and is then bent backwardly parallel to the leg 19, to provide a shielding portion 20 extending parallel to the leg portion 19, and spaced outwardly therefrom. The end portion of the shielding portion 26 is then bent outwardly as indicated by reference character 21 to provide a lip extending for the length of the side bar, which may readily be gripped by the lingers. The lip portion |21 may be bent to any desired configuration to form a gripping surface for the hands or lingers and to enhance the decorative fea-tures of the shelf.

The center or intermediate bar 11 may be formed from a fiat metal strip or plate like the end bars 10, and is shown in FIGURE 4 as having a web 23 having parallel spaced legs or flanges 24 having slots 25 formed in the web of the bar, and having generally semi-circular end portions 26 forming downward continuations of the slots 2S and receiving substantially half of the wires or rods 12.

In assemblying the shelf structure after the slotting and forming of the end bars 10 and the center bar 11, the .rods o1 wires 12 may first be located on a platen or mandrel 27 in parallel relation with respect to each other. The end bars or rails 10, and the intermediate bar 11 may then be inverted and the slots 13 and 2S located on the wires 12 and pressed thereon, with the inner sides of the shielding portions 20 in abutting engagement with the ends of the wires. A die `or a series of dies (not shown) may then be moved downwardly into engagement with the wires 12, to stake the wires outwardly between the flanges of the side rails 10 and center rail 11, and form laterally projecting staked portions 29 on the cross-wires, engaging the underside of the webs of the channels of the side bars 11, 11 and the intermediate bar 10.

These staking operations complete the assembly of the shelf structure, providing a simple `and elicient shelf structure sufficiently stiff for use in household refrigerators and produced with fewer parts and in a far simpler manner than refrigerator shelves have heretofore been produced.

It will be understood that modifications and variations of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

We claim as our invention:

l. The method of making a shelf structure particularly adapted for refrigerators and the like, comprising the steps of forming a plurality of parallel spaced slots in a plurality of flat metal strips, extending transversely of the strip-s and having end portions conforming to the crosssection of the cross-Wires of the shelf structure, bending the strips to channel-like forms having central webs and parallel spaced flanges extending from opposite sides thereof, with the end portions of said slots extending equal distances along said flanges, arranging a plurality of crosswires in spaced relation with respect to each other corresponding to the spacing of said slots, positioning the formed strips with the slots in the flanges thereof opening towards the cross-wires, registering the cross-Wires in `the slotted portions in the webs and anges, and then staking the cross-wires into engagement with `the underside of the web.

2. The method of making -a shelf structure particularly adapted for refrigerators and the like comprising the steps of slotting a plurality of metal strips transversely of the strips in a plurality of places therealong and forming the slots with opposite rounded end portions, bending the strips to channel-like forms having central webs and parallel anges extending therefrom, With the rounded end portions of the slots extending along the flanges for equal distances, arranging a plurality of cross-wires in spaced relation with respect to each other corresponding to the spacing of the slots in the strips, positioning the formed strips with the slots in the flanges thereof opening toward the cross-wires, registering the slots in a first strip with a plurality of parallel cross-wires, and then aligning second and third channel-like bars with the rst bar and registering the slots therein with said parallel cross-wires, and then staking the cross-wires to the undersides of the webs of the bars.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,004,996 Collis Oct. 3, 1911 1,014,684 Weygand Jan. 16, 1912 1,620,846 Wells Mar. 15, 1927 1,636,592 Cushwa July 19, 1927 1,867,701 Keown July 19, 1932 1,973,113 Schulz Sept. 1l, 1934 1,997,793 Hull Apr. 16, 1935 2,319,468 Nagin May 18, 1943 2,350,875 Carney June 6, 1944 2,634,867 Shields Apr. 14, 1953 

